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The Canadian Forces have still not launched an external review of their system for dealing with sexual assaults, more than a month after explosive allegations that such crimes are not being properly dealt with by the military.

Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Tom Lawson confirmed the delay Tuesday during a parliamentary committee appearance in which he found himself under attack from all sides over what some members of Parliament suggested was the military’s failure to take the issue seriously.

Military hasn't yet started review of sexual assaults, defence chief saysBack to video

Committee members from all three major parties voiced repeated concern about a lack of up-to-date data on the number of sexual assault complaints and convictions each year, as well as about the fact Canadian Forces members are not allowed to go public with complaints.

During his hour-long testimony, Lawson said he was “disturbed” by allegations in an investigation by l’Actualité and Maclean’s magazines last month that suggested rampant numbers of sexual assaults in the military.

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“I do not accept from any quarter the notion that sexual misconduct is simply part of our military culture,” he said. “Sexual misconduct of any kind is wrong, is despicable, is corrosive, and it runs utterly contrary to everything the Canadian Armed Forces stands for.”

But Lawson also reiterated several times that the situation now is much better than it was when similar concerns were raised 15 years ago. He cited actions such as mandatory harassment training implemented after similar concerns were raised in 1998. And he referenced an internal Canadian Forces survey from 2012 in which 98.5 per cent of military members said they had not been subject to sexual misconduct, before warning against “jumping to conclusions.”

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Lawson said he believed the external review — which could take another two months to begin and is to be led by a still-to-be-determined eminent person — would identify outstanding gaps.

But it was clear that committee members from all three major parties were concerned the military wasn’t taking the issue seriously enough.

“I am struck by the lack of focus on ensuring that those that behave improperly, sexually assault their comrades, are punished. And I think the accent needs to be put on that,” said Conservative MP John Williamson. “This problem that has been reported on now and in the past isn’t going to be solved alone through respect, reporting and support for victims.”

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Added NDP defence critic Jack Harris, “One would expect that in a hierarchical organization such as yours where you are the commanding officer and you tell people when to get up and what to wear and what to do, that you would be able to detect crime or punish it very easily.”

Committee members noted the only publicly available data on military sexual assault complaints was three years old, and that there was very little information about convictions or other punishments.

The head of the military’s legal division, Judge Advocate General Maj.-Gen. Blaise Cathcart, suggested the publication of more recent data was superseded by mandatory reporting requirements on other issues.

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There were also questions as to why serving Canadian Forces members are not allowed to go public with their complaints, and must instead go through the chain of command.

Lawson said this was designed to ensure military discipline, but Liberal MP Judy Sgro said it amount to “muzzling” victims.

Sgro at one point warned that failing to properly address the issue will negatively affect the military’s ability to recruit women. When Lawson suggested the Canadian Forces has made great strides in fostering a “nurturing workplace” for women, Sgro shot back: “If you have this confidence level, then why is the military seeking permission to lower the recruiting targets for women?”

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The Citizen reported last week that the Canadian Forces are trying to slash the targets they are supposed to meet for the percentage of the armed forces made up of women, visible minorities and aboriginals in uniform. The proposal for women is to reduce the current 25.1-per-cent target to 17.6 per cent.

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